Recent Advances in the Catalytic Depolymerization of Lignin towards Phenolic Chemicals: A Review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Recent Advances in the Catalytic Depolymerization of Lignin towards Phenolic Chemicals

T2 - A Review

AU - Liu, Xudong

AU - Bouxin, Florent P.

AU - Fan, Jiajun

AU - Budarin, Vitaliy L.

AU - Hu, Changwei

AU - Clark, James H.

N1 - © 2020 The Authors.

PY - 2020/8/3

Y1 - 2020/8/3

N2 - The efficient valorization of lignin could dictate the success of the 2nd generation biorefinery. Lignin, accounting for on average a third of the lignocellulosic biomass, is the most promising candidate for sustainable production of value-added phenolics. However, the structural alteration induced during lignin isolation is often depleting its potential for value-added chemicals. Recently, catalytic reductive depolymerization of lignin has appeared to be a promising and effective method for its valorization to obtain phenolic monomers. The present study systematically summarizes the far-reaching and state-of-the-art lignin valorization strategies during different stages, including conventional catalytic depolymerization of technical lignin, emerging reductive catalytic fractionation of protolignin, stabilization strategies to inhibit the undesired condensation reactions, and further catalytic upgrading of lignin-derived monomers. Finally, the potential challenges for the future researches on the efficient valorization of lignin and possible solutions are proposed.

AB - The efficient valorization of lignin could dictate the success of the 2nd generation biorefinery. Lignin, accounting for on average a third of the lignocellulosic biomass, is the most promising candidate for sustainable production of value-added phenolics. However, the structural alteration induced during lignin isolation is often depleting its potential for value-added chemicals. Recently, catalytic reductive depolymerization of lignin has appeared to be a promising and effective method for its valorization to obtain phenolic monomers. The present study systematically summarizes the far-reaching and state-of-the-art lignin valorization strategies during different stages, including conventional catalytic depolymerization of technical lignin, emerging reductive catalytic fractionation of protolignin, stabilization strategies to inhibit the undesired condensation reactions, and further catalytic upgrading of lignin-derived monomers. Finally, the potential challenges for the future researches on the efficient valorization of lignin and possible solutions are proposed.

KW - Lignin

KW - phenolic monomers

KW - reductive catalytic fractionation

KW - stabilization

KW - valorization

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088829033&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/cssc.202001213

DO - 10.1002/cssc.202001213

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85088829033

SN - 1864-5631

JO - ChemSusChem

JF - ChemSusChem

ER -